Eyes on Final Fantasy Forums > Reference > General Archive > Feedback Forum Archive > Piracy

[Del Murder]

Saving the world?

[Pureghetto]

Do we actually give out information on how to download any sort of video games/roms/emulators? I don't really think so, but I suppose the odd thread happens (otherwise Dr Unne wouldn't be so compelled to talk about something).

Anyway, count me in as agreement. Even though I haven't seen threads discussing how to download certain roms (can we give advice on how to troubleshoot emulators?), I don't think we should give out such information.

[HOOTERS]

D'arr, now ye be goin' overboard. Not literally.

BTW You shouldn't try and stop/not promote illegal downloading on the net when you do it yourself.

[edczxcvbnm]

Originally posted by ShlupQuack
Is downloading something that isn't available in your country not really illegal? Like downloading anime fansubs and such.

I don't believe it is illegal as there would be no copyrights in our country...or else it would be here.

[God]

It is illegal to steal things even if they aren't for sale in this country, yes. How could it not be illegal? Are you allowed to steal cars from Canada just because that particular car isn't sold in America? "It's not for sale here, therefore it's free" is a poor justification.

Illegal or not, I don't really care, that's not my main concern. This is supposed to be a site about appreciating games. If we turn around and allow people to steal games, what does that say? We like video games so much, we're going to allow and encourage people to steal it instead of paying for it? Maybe if we like games from some company enough, we'll just go run the company straight out of business. There's no reason not to buy a game, if you like it. I don't really care if people talk about really old ROMS or something, commercial games are all I have a problem with. My main concern is with threads like "Find me a crack for this game", yeah. We don't have them often, but we just had one recently, and I can remember others in the past. Not like it's a huge problem around here or anything, I'd just like it if those threads were killed instead of being allowed to stay open at all.

[Raistlin]

So, Unne, to use your car analogy, you don't care if people steal '56 chevys, all you care about are the new BMWs.

[God]

Cars increase in value over time. NES ROMs are worth nothing today to anyone. People sell 10 of them for a dollar at flea markets.

There's also a point where, legally, everything does (or should) enter the public domain. Books by Homer and Socrates, etc. are free for everyone to reproduce, because the original creators are no longer able to make money from them. The question of WHEN things should enter the public domain is up for debate, and I'm not sure when they do legally, but like I said, the law isn't my main concern. In my opinion, NES ROMs are or should be public domain by now. FFXI on the other hand obviously shouldn't.

[Del Murder]

I'll agree with that. The only thing I steal of that sort is Microsoft Office, but that thing is really overly expensive.